After moving into our new home, I began battling a seemingly endless cold, relentless sinus pressure that required me to lay around with ice packs on my face and a constant runny nose followed by lots of sneezing. Eventually, I started to notice a trend: my symptoms would disappear when I left home, only to return to their full intensity upon returning. This pattern pointed to a conclusion – something in my new home was triggering allergies. Which came as a surprise. Allergies were something I had never dealt with.
To verify that what I was dealing with was allergy-related, I took an IgE allergy test to assess 50 different inhalant allergies. The results revealed high sensitivity to cat dander, Alternaria Tenuis/Alternaria mold, and, strangely enough, grass (which has never bothered me).
This started to make sense, considering the previous owners had a cat. There was dander and hair everywhere. I also noticed mold and mildew on window sills, doors, and exterior siding of our home after moving in. Additionally, during the pre-closing home inspection, "mold-like growth" was identified in the attic and crawl space, prompting us to request remediation.
Fast forward six months. My allergies, though milder, still linger. Some days are worse than others; however, progress is being made, and my allergies are improving with time as we continue to deep-clean the house, eliminating cat dander and mold. We bought a HEPA air purifier that has dramatically helped. We also plan to replace the carpet and clean the air ducts in time. I recently ordered a mold test to identify the specific mold growing on the window sills—a step I should have taken sooner, but better late than never! I'll keep you updated on the test results. However, stay tuned! I'll keep you posted on the next chapter in my allergy saga.
Fast forward six months. My allergies, though milder, still linger. Some days are worse than others; however, progress is being made, and my allergies are improving with time as we continue to deep-clean the house, eliminating cat dander and mold. We bought a HEPA air purifier that has dramatically helped. We also plan to replace the carpet and clean the air ducts in time. I recently ordered a mold test to identify the specific mold growing on the window sills—a step I should have taken sooner, but better late than never! I'll keep you updated on the test results. However, stay tuned! I'll keep you posted on the next chapter in my allergy saga.
Lastly, If you find mold or mildew in or around your home, it's not only unsightly but also a potential health hazard. Depending on the type and extent of the mold, calling in a professional, as we did for our attic and crawl space, may be necessary. I'm tackling the smaller mold growth around the window sills, doors, and exterior siding, but I am taking precautions throughout the process. For cleaning tips on riding smaller areas of mold or mildew, check this article: Safely Clean and Prevent Mold Growth in Your Home.
